Control circuit for an output driving stage of an integrated circuit

Abstract

An impedance control circuit controls the impedance of an integrated output driving stage. The integrated output driving stage includes at least one enabling/disabling transistor and at least one driving transistor. The impedance control circuit includes a variable impedance circuit having an impedance that varies with the temperature in correlation with the impedance of the output driving stage. A control circuit is connected to the variable impedance circuit for generating at least one enabling/disabling signal for the at least one enabling/disabling transistor based upon a control signal correlated to the impedance of the variable impedance circuit. The impedance control circuit also includes a current generating circuit for applying to the variable impedance circuit a current which remains substantially stable as the temperature varies.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to integrated circuits, and more particularly, to a control circuit for controlling the impedance of an output driving stage of an integrated circuit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In general, integrated circuits such as semiconductor memories, for example, are provided with output driving stages or output buffers which make it possible to obtain output signals (e.g., signals containing the digital data being read by the memory) with voltage or current levels suitable to drive the components which, in the electronic system, follow the integrated circuit.

In the case of semiconductor memories, the output buffers are typically of the inverting type, and each one comprises a plurality of pull-up transistors and a plurality of pull-down transistors respectively connected in parallel. For example, in the case of CMOS technology integrated circuits, the pull-up and pull-down transistors can be metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) of the P-channel and N-channel type, respectively.

It is known that data transfer from a first integrated circuit to a second integrated circuit, for example, from a semiconductor memory such as a Flash memory to a receiving device such as a microprocessor, requires an impedance matching between the output buffer and the data line. The data line includes the bus along which data are carried. In fact, in non-matching conditions, reflections along the bus data line delay data transfer to the receiving device.

For this reason, the number and dimension characteristics of the pull-down and pull-up transistors in the output buffers are chosen in such a way as to satisfy the impedance matching. However, due to the fact that the parameter characteristics of the transistors used in the output buffers depend on temperature, and as this varies, the resistivity of the output buffers may also vary causing the matching conditions to worsen.

To compensate for these variations in the resistivity, conventional output buffers use pull-up and pull-down transistors which can be enabled selectively by enabling/disabling signals generated by a special control circuit. In this way, the configuration of the transistors enabled inside the output buffer can be modified by the control circuit in such a way as to maintain the impedance matching so that it is unchanged with the temperature.

Circuits to control impedance of the output buffers which use a group of control transistors connected in parallel, whose impedance is correlated to that of the output buffer and is variable with the temperature in correlation with the variations in the output buffer impedance, are well known. Furthermore, the control circuits use a reference circuit component, such as a resistor, whose impedance is stable with temperature and is proportional to that of the data line to which the output buffer is to be connected. A special control circuit, on the basis of a signal deriving from the control transistors and a signal deriving from the reference element, detects the presence of a non-matching situation and generates the pull-up and pull-down transistor enabling/disabling signals in such a way as to restore the matching condition.

It should be noted that conventional control circuits may present different implementation characteristics but, in any case, they require the use of a reference circuit component which remains stable in varying temperatures. The circuit component is of the discrete type and, therefore, has the disadvantage that it cannot be integrated onto the same chip as the output buffer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing background, an object of the present invention is to manufacture a circuit to control the impedance of an output driving stage which avoids the use of discrete type circuit components and which can, therefore, be fully integrated onto the same chip that includes the driving circuit.

This and other objects, advantages and features according to the present invention are provided by an output driving stage impedance control circuit of an integrated circuit which comprises a plurality of driving transistors comprising at least one enabling/disabling transistor.

The control circuit comprises variable impedance means whose impedance varies with the temperature in correlation with the impedance of the output driving stage, and control means connected to the variable impedance means such as to generate a first signal for enabling/disabling the at least one transistor according to a control signal correlated to the impedance of the variable impedance means.

The control circuit further comprises current generation means to inject into the variable impedance means a current which is substantially stable with the temperature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics and advantages of this invention will appear evident from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment, given purely as a non-limiting example and made with the help of the enclosed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an output driving stage with controlled impedance according to the invention;

FIG. 2a is a circuit diagram of a first control circuit which can be used in the output driving stage illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2b shows a circuit diagram of a second control circuit which can be used in the output driving stage illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a particular example of the current generation means which can be used in the output driving stage illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a particular example of an integrated circuit using the output driving stage illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a control circuit that is an alternative to the circuit diagrams illustrated in FIGS. 2a, 2b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a possible embodiment of a controlled impedance output driving circuit 1 in accordance with the invention, suitable to be used at the output of an integrated circuit. The circuit 1 comprises an input IN for an input signal, a control circuit CC, a logical gate circuit LGC, an output driving stage or output buffer OB, and a terminal or output pad 2 for an output signal.

For example, the circuit 1 is suitable to be used at the output of a non-volatile memory, such as a Flash memory. In this case the circuit 1 is provided on the output of a non-volatile memory, and the data input IN contains a bit of a data word read in the memory which must be made available at the output.

For example, a high voltage level signal corresponding to a logic 1 can be fed to the data input IN, or a low voltage level signal corresponding to a logic 0 can be fed to the data input IN. In the example given in FIG. 1, a signal having a logic level equal to the 1 present at the input IN is made available in operating conditions at the terminal 2.

Furthermore, FIG. 1 shows the supply terminals of the circuit 1 to which a supply voltage Vdd is applied. For example, the supply voltage Vdd can be equal to approximately 5 V, 3 V or 1.8 V.

Terminal 2 of the circuit 1 is connected by a data line 3, having a characteristic impedance Zc, to a receiving device 4 as shown in FIG. 1, with an impedance load ZL connected to the data line 3 and to a ground terminal or ground GND. In particular, the data line 3 is a schematic representation of a strip on a printed circuit board to connect the output buffer OB to the receiving device 4. Typically, the characteristic impedance Zc of the data line 3 is equal to about 50 ohms.

The receiving device 4 can, for example, be a microprocessor input circuit or another integrated circuit (not shown). Since MOS technology integrated circuits are involved, the behavior in static conditions of the receiving device 4 is such that it can be assimilated to an open circuit.

The circuit 1 according to the invention, during the switching stage from one level to another of the output signal at terminal 2, enables generation of a voltage edge Vi incident to the data line 3 with an amplitude substantially equal to Vdd/2. As will be evident to those skilled in the art, to the incident voltage edge Vi corresponds a switching edge on the receiving device 4 with amplitude VL substantially equal to the following:

VL=2Vi=Vdd  (1)

This insures that switching of the receiving device 4 takes place in only one passage.

The above mentioned relation between the incident voltage Vi and the voltage VL present on the receiving device 4 is equivalent to an impedance matching of the circuit with distributed parameters comprising the output buffer OB, the data line 3 and the impedance load ZL.

The impedance matching corresponds to rendering, in the desired operating point of the circuit, the resistance R0 of the output buffer OB and the characteristic impedance Zc of the line substantially coincident, i.e., Ro=Zc. Representing graphically the characteristic current-voltage curve I-V, which describes the behavior of the output buffer OB and the load line corresponding to the impedance Zc of the data line 3, the matching condition corresponds to sizing the output buffer OB in such a way that the characteristic curve intersects the load line at a point of voltage Vdd/2 and of current IM equal to IM=Vdd/2ZC.

It should be noted that in conditions of non-matching, the propagation of a signal output by the circuit 1 along the data line 3 is delayed and, in particular, if the resistance of the output buffer R0 is lower than the characteristic impedance of the line Zc, excessive delays are produced. However, if R0 is greater than Zc, the signal setting in steady conditions takes place in several passages.

In greater detail, the output buffer OB comprises a pull-up circuit PU and a pull-down circuit PD, coupled to the terminal 2 of the driving circuit 1. The pull-up circuit PU comprises a plurality of pull-up transistors or pull-up drivers. In the example, three P-channel MOSFETs p1, p2, p3, for example, are coupled in parallel and are supplied with the voltage Vdd. The voltage Vdd is applied to the source terminal of each pull-up driver p1-p3 while the respective drain terminals are connected to the terminal 2 of the circuit 1.

In the example given in FIG. 1, the pull-up drivers p1-p3 present the same aspect ratio value, in other words, the ratio between the width Wp and the length Lp of their respective conduction channels. In particular, the pull-up drivers p1-p3 present the same resistivity value.

In the same way, the pull-down circuit PD comprises a plurality of pull-down driving transistors or pull-down drivers. In the example, there are three N-channel MOSFETs n1, n2, n3, for example, coupled in parallel. The drain terminals of the pull-down drivers n1-n3 are coupled to the drain terminals of the pull-up drivers p1-p3, and therefore to terminal 2, while the source terminals of the drivers n1-n3 are coupled to GND ground.

Analogous to the pull-up drivers p1-p3, the pull-down drivers n1-n3 present the same aspect ratio value, in other words the ratio between the width Wp and the length Lp of their respective conduction channels and, in particular, the pull-down drivers present the same resistivity value.

Preferably, each pull-down driver n1-n3 has a resistivity value substantially equal to that of a similar pull-up driver p1-p3. The pull-up drivers p1-p3 and the pull-down drivers n1-n3 are enabled for operation, in other words for conduction, from enabling/disabling signals abp1-abp3 and abn1-abn3 respectively, applied to the respective gate terminals.

The control circuit CC comprises a first control circuit CC1 to control the pull-up circuit PU, and a second control circuit CC2 to control the pull-down circuit PD.

The first (second) control circuit CC1 (CC2) is fed, in addition to the voltage Vdd, a reference voltage VREF and a reference current IREF substantially stable as the temperature T varies and as the supply voltage Vdd varies.

For example, the voltage VREF is generated by a circuit of the bandgap type produced with well-known techniques and thus will not be described. Furthermore, the reference current IREF can be obtained by using any conventional technique, such as a technique which uses a bandgap type source. For example, a source of current which remains stable as the temperature and the supply voltage varies and is suitable to be used in this invention is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,159.

It should be observed that the circuit for generation of the reference voltage VREF and the circuit for generation of the reference current IREF can be integrated onto the same chip that includes the output buffer OB. Furthermore, a conventional chip comprising a non-volatile memory, such as a Flash memory, normally comprises a circuit for the generation of a reference voltage and current which remains stable as the temperature and supply voltage varies and are used, for example, to supply loading pump booster circuits. In this case, the current IREF and the voltage VREF can be advantageously derived from the circuit present in the chip.

The first (second) control circuit CC1 (CC2), on the basis of the temperature T and the voltage Vdd, is suited to supply three output signals ABp1, ABp2, ABp3, (ABn1, ABn2, ABn3). The signals ABp1, ABp2, ABp3, (ABn1, ABn2, ABn3) are used to generate the above mentioned enabling/disabling signals abp1-abp3 (abn1-abn3) of the pull-up drivers p1-p3 (pull-down drivers n1-n3).

Output of the first control circuit CC1 and output of the second control circuit CC2 are connected to a logic gate circuit LGC. In particular, the logic gate circuit LGC comprises three logic gates 6 of the OR type. The first inputs are connected by the inverters 5 to the output signals ABp1, ABp2, ABp3 of the first control circuit CC1, and second inputs are connected to the input IN by an inverter 5′. An output of the logic gates 6 are connected to the terminals of the gates of the pull-up drivers p1-p3 to supply the enabling/disabling signals abp1-abp3 to the terminals.

Moreover, the logic gate circuit LGC comprises three logic gates 7 of the AND type. A first input is connected to the output of the second control circuit CC2 relative to signals ABn1, ABn2, ABn3, and a second input is connected by an inverter 5′ to the input IN. At the output, the logic gates 7 are respectively connected to the terminals of the gates of the pull-down drivers n1-n3 to supply the enabling/disabling signals abn1-abn3 to the terminals.

FIGS. 2a and 2b respectively show the first and second control circuits CC1 and CC2. The first control circuit CC1 comprises variable impedance means which present a variable impedance correlated to the impedance of the output buffer OB. In particular, the variable impedance means present an impedance variable with the temperature correlated to the variation in the impedance of the output buffer OB.

In the particular example given in FIG. 2a, the variable impedance means comprise three control transistors p′1, p′2, p′3, formed by P-channel MOSFET transistors. Each of the control transistors p′1, p′2, p′3 has a resistivity proportional to the equivalent resistivity of a pre-established working configuration of the pull-up circuit PU.

In particular, the control transistor p1′ has a resistivity proportional to the resistivity of the pull-up driver p1 while the control transistors p2′ and p3′ have a resistivity proportional to the equivalent resistivity of the two pull-up drivers p1 and p2 provided in parallel and of the three pull-up drivers p1, p2, p3 provided in parallel respectively. For example, the control transistor p′1 has an aspect ratio Wp1′/Lp1′ equal to the above-described aspect ratio Wp/Lp of the pull-up driver p1 multiplied by a suitable scale factor &agr;: Wp1′/Lp1′=&agr;Wp/Lp.

Moreover, the control transistors p′2 and p′3 have aspect ratios Wp2′/Lp2′, Wp3′/Lp3′ respectively, proportional, according to factor &agr;, to double and triple of the aspect ratio Wp/Lp of the pull-up transistor p1, i.e., equal, respectively, to the double and the triple of the aspect ratio Wp1′/Lp1′ of the control transistor p1′: Wp2′/Lp2′=2(&agr;Wp/Lp); Wp3′/Lp3′=3(&agr;Wp/Lp).

Advantageously, the factor &agr; is less than 1 so that the size of the control transistors is less than those of the pull-up drivers so as to obtain a smaller first control circuit CC1 and to ensure that the current flowing therein is not too high.

Each control transistor p′1-p′3 is fed at the source terminal with a voltage Vdd and has the drain terminal connected to the current generation means 8. The current generation means 8 are suitable to generate a current equal to &agr;IM, where &agr; is the above-defined scale factor and IM, equal to Vdd/2Zc, is the amplitude of the output current at the output buffer OB in matching conditions. Furthermore, the current generation means 8 generate a current which remains substantially stable with temperature. A particular example of the means 8 to generate current &agr;IM, remaining stable with the temperature, shall be described more in detail below.

Moreover, the size of the conduction channels of the control transistors p′1-p′3 described above and the choice of the current value &agr;IM make it possible to obtain, across each control transistor p′1-p′3, a potential drop substantially equal to the potential drop which would take place across the pull-up driver p1, across the pull-up drivers in parallel p1 and p2 and across the pull-up drivers in parallel p1, p2 and p3 respectively, in impedance matching conditions.

The drain terminals of the control transistors p′1, p′3 are connected, respectively, at the nodes A1, A2 and A3, to three inverting inputs, of three comparators 9, for example, supplied with the voltage Vdd. Each comparator 9 is provided with a non-inverting input to which is applied a voltage Vdd/2 equal to half of the supply voltage Vdd. The voltage Vdd/2 applied to each comparator 9 is substantially equal to the value Vi of the amplitude of the voltage edge incident on the data line 3 during switching of the output signal from the buffer OB, and when impedance matching conditions are established.

The comparators 9 compare the voltages VA1, VA2, VA3 of the nodes A1, A2, A3 with the voltage Vdd/2 to provide the signals ABp1, ABp2, ABp3 at the respective outputs. The comparators 9 are a particular example of control means which can be used to generate the signals ABp1, ABp2, ABp3 based on the voltages VA1, VA2, VA3.

Each signal ABp1, ABp2, ABp3 has a voltage level corresponding to a high logic level (e.g., equal to voltage Vdd) or to a low logic level (e.g., equal to ground voltage GND) if each voltage VA1, VA2, VA3 is lower or greater than the voltage Vdd/2 respectively.

FIG. 2b shows the second control circuit CC2 which is similar to the first control circuit CC1 described above. The second control circuit CC2 comprises variable impedance means of the same type as those described above with reference to FIG. 2a.

In the example given in FIG. 2b, the variable impedance means comprise three control transistors n′1, n′2, n′3, composed of N-channel MOSFET transistors. Each of the control transistors n′1, n′2, n′3 has a resistivity proportional to the resistivity of a pre-established working configuration of the pull-down circuit PD. In particular, the resistivity and characteristic size, i.e., the size of the conduction channels, of the control transistors n′1-n′3 are correlated to those of the pull-down drivers n1-n3 in the same way as that described with reference to the first control circuit CC1. For example, the characteristic size of the control transistors n′1-n′3 and that of the pull-down drivers n1-n3 are correlated by a scale factor, which is advantageously the above-described factor &agr;.

The source terminals of the control transistors n′1-n′3 are connected to the ground terminal GND, and the drain terminals are connected to the current generation means 18, similar to the means 8 mentioned above and suitable to generate a current &agr;IM. The drain terminals of the control transistors n′1-n′3 are connected, respectively, at nodes A1, A2 and A3, with three non-inverting inputs of three differential comparators 19, for example, supplied with the voltage Vdd. Each comparator 19 has an inverting input to which is applied a voltage Vdd/2.

The comparator 19 compares the voltages VA1, VA2, VA3, with the voltage Vdd/2 to generate the enabling signals ABn1, ABn2, ABn3 on the respective outputs. Each signal ABn1, ABn2, ABn3 has a voltage level corresponding to a high logic level (e.g., equal to the voltage Vdd) or to a low logic level (e.g., equal to the ground voltage GND) if each voltage VA1, VA2, VA3 is greater or lower than the voltage Vdd/2 respectively.

A particular example of the operation of the controlled impedance output driving circuit 1 is given below. Suppose that a high logic level signal (bit 1) is applied at the data input IN. In this case, the output signals abn1-abn3 at the logic gates 7 of the AND type have a low logic level, independently of the logic level of the signals ABn1-ABn3. Thus, the pull-down drivers n1-n3, composed in the example of FIG. 1 by N-channel MOSFETs, are disabled.

Furthermore, consider an initial state where, at a pre-established temperature T, the output buffer OB is in an impedance matching configuration. For example, the impedance matching is obtained by enabling only the pull-up drivers p1 and p2 of the output buffer OB. The pull-up drivers p1 and p2 are enabled for conduction of the low logic level signals abp1 and abp2. The pull-up driver p3 is kept disabled by the high logic level signal abp3.

In this initial working condition, a potential drop takes place on the control transistors p1′ and p2′, through which a temperature stable current &agr;IM is flowing, which drives the nodes A1 and A2 with voltages VA1 and VA2 to a voltage lower than the voltage Vdd/2 in such a way that the high logic level signals ABp1 and ABp2 are present at the output on the corresponding comparators 9. The potential drop on the control transistor p′3 takes the node A3 to a voltage VA3 greater than the voltage Vdd/2 in such a way that the low logic level signal ABp3 is present at the output on the corresponding comparator 9.

The signals ABp1, ABp2, ABp3 inverted by the inverters 5 combine inside the logic gates of the OR type 6 with the signal applied to the data input IN and inverted by the inverter 5′. Thus, the low logic level signals abp1 and abp2 and the high logic level signal abp3 are obtained at the output on the logic gates 6. In this way, the output terminal 2 of the integrated circuit, presumed initially at a low logic level, is driven towards the voltage Vdd by the two pull-up drivers p1 and p2. As a result of the matching condition in the switching transient of the transistors p1 and p2, the incident edge Vi has an amplitude equal to Vdd/2, and reflected waves are not generated on the line.

When the temperature T increases compared to the value T, the resistivity of the drivers used in the output buffer OB, and in particular, of the drivers p1 and p2si, also increases. Increase in the resistivity values can lead the output buffer OB to a condition of non-matching, and induce an increase in the potential drop on the parallel pull-up drivers p1 and p2, which corresponds to a decrease in voltage Vi incident on the data line 3 as compared to the value Vdd/2.

To restore the matching condition of the new temperature value T, it is necessary to reduce the impedance of the output buffer OB. For example, this can be obtained by also enabling for conduction the pull-up driver p3 in such a way as to obtain an overall impedance of the drivers p1,p2,p3 which satisfies the matching condition.

With reference to the control resistors p′1, p′2, p′3, the increase in temperature to which they are also subjected causes an increase in their respective resistivity values by an amount correlated to the increase sustained by the pull-up drivers p1, p2 and p3.

In greater detail, an increase in the resistance of the control transistors p′1 and p′2 affected by the current &agr;IM, stable with the temperature, corresponds to an increase in the potential drop on the transistors and, therefore, a decrease in the voltages VA1 and VA2. Thus, the voltages VA1 and VA2 remain less than the voltage Vdd/2 and the output signals ABp1 and ABp2 on the corresponding comparators 9 remain at low logic levels keeping the pull-up drivers p1 and p2 enabled for conduction.

The increase in resistivity of the control transistor p′3, also affected by the current &agr;IM, induces an increase in the potential drop on the transistor. If the increase takes the voltage VA3 to a value less than Vdd/2, switching of the corresponding comparator 9 takes place which will generate a high logic level output signal ABp3. The signal ABp3, suitably inverted by the inverter 5 and when applied to the corresponding logic gate 6, causes switching of the signal abp3 towards a low logic level. This enables the pull-up driver p3 to restore the impedance matching condition.

Now consider the case where, starting from the above-defined initial condition, a decrease in temperature compared to temperature T occurs, leading to a non-matching condition due to the reduction in the resistivity of the parallel pull-up drivers p1 and p2. Matching can be restored by increasing the impedance of the output buffer OB, for example, by disabling the pull-up driver p2.

Reduction in resistivity of the control transistor p2′, caused by the decrease in temperature, corresponds to a reduction in the potential drop on the transistor p2′ itself, and therefore, to an increase in the voltage VA2. In particular, if the voltage VA2 has a value greater than the voltage Vdd/2, the output signal ABp2 from the corresponding comparator 9 switches from a high logic level to a low logic level. The signal ABp2, applied to the logic gate circuit LGC, causes switching of the signal abp3 from a low logic level to a high logic level which disables the pull-up driver p2. In the example described, the variations in voltages VA1 and VA3, induced by reductions in temperature, do not cause variations in the logic levels of the signals ABp1 and ABp2 as compared to the initial condition. In this way, the impedance matching condition for the new temperature value is reached.

Operation of the output driving stage 1 when a low logic level signal (bit 0 is applied at the data input IN,) disables the pull-up circuit PU and enables the pull-down circuit PD is evident to those skilled in the art based upon the previous description and corresponding figures.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a preferred embodiment of the means 8 to generate the current &agr;IM. The means 8 comprise a current source 60 suitable to generate the reference current IREF. As stated previously, the source 60 is of a well-known type and, for example, can comprise a voltage generator of the bandgap type. The current source 60 is coupled to current mirror CM comprising a transistor Q1 and a transistor Q2, composed for example, of an N-type MOSFET.

The transistor Q1 has a drain terminal connected to the current source 60 and to its own gate terminal, while a source terminal is connected to ground. The gate terminal of the transistor Q1 is connected to a gate terminal of the transistor Q2. The current mirror CM is suitable to provide at the drain terminal of the transistor Q2 a current I1 proportional to the current IREF. Preferably, the transistors Q1 and Q2 have identical aspect ratios, for example, equal to 4 &mgr;m/2 &mgr;m, in such a way so that the current mirror CM absorbs at the drain terminal of the transistor Q2 a current I1 equal to the current IREF.

Furthermore, the means 8 comprise a multiplication stage with a first current mirror CM1 and a second current mirror CM2. The first current mirror CM1 comprises two transistors Qp1 and Qp2, both of the P-channel MOSFET type.

A drain terminal of the transistor Qp1 is connected to the drain terminal of the transistor Q2. The transistors Qp1 and Qp2 are provided with source terminals connected to the supply Vdd and with gate terminals connected to each other and to the drain terminal of the transistor Qp1. The current mirror CM1 makes it possible to obtain, at the drain terminal of the transistor Qp2, a current I2 substantially proportional to the current I1 according to a multiplication factor k1 dependent on the aspect ratios of the transistors Qp1 and Q2: I2=k1I1.

The first current mirror CM1 is connected to the second current mirror CM2 comprising two transistors Qn1 and Qn2, both of the N-channel MOSFET type. In particular, a drain terminal of the transistor Qp2 is connected to a drain terminal of the transistor Qn1 in such a way as to supply the current I2 to the transistor Qn1. The transistors Qn1 and Qn2 have source terminals connected to ground and gate terminals connected to each other, and to the drain terminal of the transistor Qn1.

The second current mirror CM2 makes it possible to obtain, at the drain terminal of the transistor Qn2, a current I3 entering the drain terminal and proportional to the current I2 according to the multiplication factor k2. In particular, by suitably sizing the first and second current mirrors CM1 and CM2, a current I2 equal to the current &agr;IM suitable to be used in the first control circuit CC1, is obtained.

Preferably, the current generation means 8 generate a current &agr;IM which varies in accordance with the supply voltage Vdd. More preferably, the current &agr;IM can vary proportionally to the supply voltage Vdd. In the latter case, the second current mirror CM2 comprises one or more multiplying branches connected in parallel to the transistor Qn2 which can be selectively activated by an enabling circuit 30.

In the example given in FIG. 3, three multiplying branches are illustrated, comprising respectively the multiplication transistors of the N-channel MOSFET type Qn3, Qn4, Qn5 and respective branch enabling transistors Qa3, Qa4, Qa5 connected in series to the multiplication transistors. The branch enabling transistors Qa3, Qa4, Qa5 are enabled to conduction by the signals abq3, abq4, abq5, applied respectively to each gate terminal. Enabling of one of the branches makes it possible to modify the current &agr;IM generated by the means 8. In particular, enabling of a branch causes an increase in the current &agr;IM.

The multiplying branches of the second current mirror CM2 can be enabled by an enabling circuit 30 comprising a resistive divider 31 to which the voltage Vdd is applied, and comprising resistances R1-R4 arranged in series. Furthermore, the enabling circuit 30 comprises three comparators C3-C5 having inverting terminals connected to a generator 70 suitable to generate the reference voltage VREF and non-inverting terminals connected to the nodes B, C, D, respectively, of the resistive divider 31. The generator 70 is, for example, a conventional generator of the bandgap type.

The enabling circuit 30 can be manufactured by known integration techniques and, advantageously, it can be entirely provided on the same chip as the output buffer OB. Output of the comparators C3-C5 are connected to the gate terminals of the enabling transistors Qa3, Qa4, Qa5 and they supply the output enabling signals abq3, abq4, abq5 dependent respectively on the difference between the voltages at the points B, C, D and the voltage VREF.

For example, consider the particular case in which sizing of the generation means 8 provides that, for a pre-established value of the voltage Vdd, only the multiplying branch containing the transistor Qn3 is activated. In this case, the comparator C3 provides an output signal abq3 with a high logic level and is suitable for enabling the transistor Qa3 while the comparators C4, C5 provide the respective output signals abq4, abq5 having a low level so as not to activate the enabling transistors Qa4, Qa5.

In case of an increase in the voltage Vdd compared to the pre-established value for which the entire control circuit CC is sized, an increase in the voltage drop on the resistances R1-R4 is induced. This increase causes the switching of one or both of the comparators C4, C5 in such a way that only the signal abq4 or both signals abq4 and abq5 are of a value sufficiently high to activate either only the transistor Qa4 or both transistors Qa4 and Qa5.

Following enabling of one or more multiplying branches, an increase in the output current &agr;IM from the means 8 is caused. In the same way, a reduction in the voltage Vdd causes disabling of one or more multiplying branches of the second current mirror CM2 and, thus, a reduction in the current &agr;IM.

In particular, suitable sizing of the components of the enabling circuit 30, easily established by those skilled in the art, makes it possible to obtain a current &agr;IM which varies proportionally to variations in the Vdd. Preferably, indicating with Vdd-act the value effectively reached by the supply voltage Vdd, the current &agr;IM can be made variable as the voltage Vdd-act varies, according to the relation &agr;IM=&agr;Vdd-act/2Zc.

The possibility of varying the current &agr;IM according to the voltage Vdd, and in particular, proportionally to the voltage provided by the multiplying branches and by the enabling circuit 30, makes it possible to render the first control circuit CC1 independent of fluctuations in the voltage Vdd.

In fact, fluctuation in the voltage Vdd compared to the pre-established value, causes the pull-up drivers p1-p3 to be biased in operation points where the output buffer OB is not able to satisfy a matching condition. Therefore, the intersection between the characteristic curve I-V of the output buffer OB and the load line corresponding to the impedance Zc of the data line 3 determines an operation point with voltage and current values different from the above-mentioned values Vdd/2, Vdd/2Z corresponding to the impedance matching.

To restore the matching condition, it is necessary to modify the configuration of the drivers enabled inside the output buffer OB. By allowing the current &agr;IM to vary proportionally to the voltage Vdd, as described with reference to FIG. 3, the drop in potential on the control transistors p′1-p′3 and the voltages VA1, VA2, VA3 are modified in such a way that the comparators 9 provide output enabling signals ABp1, ABp2, ABp3 which change the configuration of the output buffer OB for restoring the matching condition.

For example, with reference to the first control circuit CC1, following an increase in the voltage Vdd, the circuit 30 suitably increases the output current &agr;IM for causing an increase in at least one of the voltages VIA1, VA2, VA3 to such a degree as to cause switching of at least one of the comparators 9 resulting in a configuration of the pull-up drivers p′1-p′3 to which an increase in the resistance of the output buffer OB corresponds, such as to restore the buffer to matching conditions. In other words, an increase in the voltage Vdd causes a reduction in the resistivity of a control transistor which is compensated by a suitable increase in the current &agr;IM.

With reference to the second control circuit CC2, the means 18 to generate current &agr;IM to be fed to the drain terminals of the control transistors n′1-n′3 are the same as the above-described generation means 8 used in the control circuit CC1. In particular, to generate a current &agr;IM, a first current mirror can be used, similar to the mirror CM1, including P-channel MOSFET transistors, as well as a second current mirror which, unlike the current mirror CM2, uses P-channel MOSFET transistors. The P-channel MOSFET transistors can be enabled by an enabling circuit similar to the one described above.

The output driving stage 1, and in particular, the control circuit CC, makes it possible to control the impedance of the output buffer OB. This avoids the use of discrete reference circuit components reproducing electrical characteristics of the data line to which the output driving stage is connected, such as temperature stable resistors having a resistance correlated to that of the data line, used according to the known art. The control circuit CC according to the invention has the advantage that it can be integrated onto the same chip as the output buffer OB.

Advantageously, circuit 1 may include additional components, such as auxiliary transistors which can be enabled selectively and set in parallel to the pull-up p1-pn and pull-down n1-nn drivers and to the control transistors p′1-p′n and n′1-n′n which make it possible to compensate variations, linked to the manufacturing process, in the nominal values and the effective values of the characteristic parameters of the components of circuit 1.

Furthermore, for the same reason, the second current mirror CM2 can include, besides the multiplying branches described above, one or more additional components such as, for example, one or more multiplying branches which can be enabled selectively, of the type similar to those illustrated in FIG. 3. To compensate for variations in the nominal values of the resistors R1-R4, the resistive divider 30 can be provided with additional components, such as, for example, resistances which can be enabled or disabled by controlling suitable transistors set in parallel to the resistances.

By carrying out tests on the circuit 1, it is possible to identify those components, such as the control transistors, output buffer drivers, multiplying branches or resistors, which have characteristics different from the nominal ones. Following the testing stage, optimal configuration of the additional components, which makes it possible to compensate the above-described variations, can be established.

Information relative to the configuration can be stored in suitable non-volatile memory cells, such as CAM (content addressable memory) cells provided for this purpose. Moreover, the presence of additional components makes it possible to obtain impedance matching of the circuit shown in FIG. 1 for different impedance values of the data line 3.

The output driving circuit with controlled impedance according to the invention may have a configuration different to that of the circuit 1 described with reference to FIGS. 1-3. For example, the output buffer OB of the inverting type may include pull-up and pull-down drivers with aspect ratios correlated to each other in a different way from that described as an example previously.

In this regard, consider an output buffer OB of a type alternative to the buffer described previously and including a pull-up circuit provided with a plurality of pull-up drivers, for example, four drivers P0, P1, P2, P3, (not shown) having respective aspect ratios that are multiples of a reference aspect ratio Wu/Lu according to factors in geometric progression of 2: Wu/Lu, 2Wu/Lu, 4Wu/Lu, 8Wu/Lu.

The output buffer further comprises a pull-down circuit including a plurality of drivers, for example, four drivers N0, N1, N2, N3, (not shown) having respective aspect ratios that are multiples of a reference aspect ratio Wu′/Lu′ according to a relation similar to that described above for the pull-up drivers.

The pull-up drivers P0-P3 and the pull-down drivers N0-N3 can, for example, be composed of P-channel and N-channel MOSFETs respectively, and enabled by respective enabling/disabling signals applied to their respective gate terminals. FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a control circuit CC1′ suitable to control the pull-up circuit of the output buffer alternative to the buffer described with reference to FIGS. 1-3.

Similarly, to control circuits CC1 and CC2, the control circuit CC1′ comprises variable impedance means which have an impedance variable with temperature correlated to the variation in the temperature of the output buffer impedance. In the particular example given in FIG. 5, the variable impedance means comprise four control transistors P0′, P1′, P2′, P3′ composed of P-channel MOSFETs, connected in parallel and supplied with the voltage Vdd. Each control transistor P0′-P3′ has an aspect ratio equal, respectively, to the aspect ratio of each pull-up driver P0-P3 multiplied by a scale factor &agr;′, which is preferably less than 1.

The parallel circuit formed by the control transistors P0′-P3′ is connected to the means 8 to generate current equal to &agr;′IM, where &agr;′ is the above-defined scale factor, and IM, equal to Vdd/2Zc, is the amplitude of current provided by the output buffer in matching conditions. The means 8 in FIG. 5 are similar to the means 8 described with reference to FIG. 3.

Each control transistor P0′-P3′ is enabled by respective enabling/disabling signals s0, s1, s2, s3 applied to the respective gate terminals. The control circuit CC1′ further comprises control means, such as a control circuit 50 suitable to generate signals s0L, s1L, s2L, s3L from which the enabling/disabling signals of the pull-up drivers P0-P3 can be obtained. Furthermore, the control circuit 50 generates the enabling/disabling signals s0, s1, s2, s3 of the control transistors P0′-P3′.

In greater detail, the control circuit 50 comprises a comparator 51, similar to the comparators 9 described previously, having a first input connected to a node A (which is connected to the drain terminals of the control transistors P0′-P3′), a second input to which the voltage Vdd/2 can be applied, and an output for a signal sd having a voltage level of a logic level depending on the difference between the signals applied to the first and second inputs.

The output providing the signal sd is connected to the input of a synchronous counter 52 module 16, of the bi-directional or up/down type, to which a timing or clock pulse sequence CLK can be fed. This counter 52, based on the logic level of the signal sd, increases or decreases a unit with each clock pulse. The signal sd has the role of a counter direction signal for the counter 52.

Corresponding to each counter state in which it operates, the counter 52 outputs the four enabling/disabling signals s0, s1, s2, s3 of the control transistors P0′-P3′. Each output si of the counter 52 corresponds to a bit of the binary digit which increases or decreases during the count.

The output of the comparator 51 is also connected to a sequence identifier 53 provided with an input for the pulse train of the clock CLK. The sequence identifier 53 provides, at one of its outputs, an identifying signal with a high logic level when the signal sd applied to one of its inputs is given by a suitable bit sequence, for example, a sequence of the type 10101010 . . . and of the type 11001100 . . . . These two sequences correspond to two possible stable states in which the voltage VA oscillates around the value Vdd/2.

The outputs of the counter 52 with the enabling/disabling signals s0, s1, s2, s3 are connected to a register 54. The register 54 is also connected to the output of the sequence identifier 53 whose identifying signal acts as a sync signal for the register. The register 54 keeps outputting the signals s0L, s1L, s2L, s3L and samples the input signals s0, s1, s2, s3 supplying them at the output at a rising edge of the sync signal coming from the sequence identifier 53.

During operation, when the voltage VA of point A is less than the voltage Vdd/2, the signal sd output by the comparator 9 is at a high logic level, in such a way as to set the counter 52 in a particular clock pulse counting direction, for example, forward or up counting. At the output of the counter 52, the signals s0, s1, s2, s3 take on logic levels to enable and/or disable at least one of the control transistors P0′-P3′ to increase the voltage VA. If the voltage remains at a value less than the voltage Vdd/2, counting continues in the same direction, while if the voltage VA is greater than the voltage Vdd/2, the signal sd switches which inverts the count direction.

When a state is reached in which the voltage VA is adequately near the voltage Vdd/2, the signal sd takes the course of one of the sequences identifiable by the sequence identifier 53. After a pre-established number of clock pulses, the sequence identifier 53 switches, providing at the output a high logic level signal. The switching ensures that the register 54 provides the output signals s0L, s1L, s2L, s3L at logic levels equal to those of the signals s0, s1, s2, s3 at the output from the counter 52. The signals s0L, s1L, s2L, s3L so obtained make it possible to impose a configuration of the output buffer corresponding to the matching.

FIG. 4 illustrates an integrated circuit or chip 40 supplied with a voltage Vdd and comprising a memory array 41, such as a non-volatile memory of the Flash type, including a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns suitable for storing bits. The memory array 41 is provided with a row decoder 42 and a column decoder 43 suitable to receive, through suitable buses, a row address signal RADD and a column address signal CADD respectively, both fed at an ADD input of the chip 40.

Based on the address signals RADD and CADD, the row and column decoders 42 and 43 make it possible to select one or more rows and one or more columns respectively of the memory array 41 to select a number n of cells of the memory array 41. Furthermore, the chip 40 is provided with an input CS for the application of control signals of the memory array 41. For example, the control signals may comprise a read enabling signal OE, a write enabling signal WE and a circuit enabling signal CE.

The memory array 41 is connected to n output lines L1-Ln on which, during a reading operation of the array itself, n data bits are made available, and stored in the selected memory cells. These output lines 44 are connected to n sense amplifiers 45 of a conventional type, for example. The sense amplifiers 45 are connected to n output driving circuits with controlled impedance ODC1-ODCn, each of a type similar to circuit 1 described above.

The circuits ODC1-ODCn are connected by terminals 2, which are typically pads, to respective data lines TL1-TLn, with characteristic impedance Zc1-Zcn, each closed on an impedance load ZL1-ZLn such as to operate as an open circuit. The data lines TL1-TLn form a bus for the transmission of data output from the memory array 41, produced for example on a printed circuit on which the chip 40 is applied. The impedance loads ZL1-ZLn can, for example, together represent a microprocessor input circuit.

Similar to circuit 1, the circuits ODC1-ODCn comprise output buffers of a type similar to the above-described output buffer OB and respective control circuits similar to the above-described circuit CC. Preferably, a single control circuit, similar to circuit CC can be used to control all the output buffers of the ODC1-ODCn circuits.

Each circuit ODC1-ODCn is such as to control the impedance matching of the respective output buffers. In other words, each circuit ODC1-ODCn makes it possible to control the impedance of the output buffer contained therein in such a way as to maintain it substantially equal to the impedance of the respective data lines TL1-TLn.

A reduction in the power used to manage the matching impedance control can be obtained by activating the control circuit present in each circuit ODC1-ODCn only in some stages of the operation of the integrated circuit. For example, the control circuits can be activated before each reading step of the data stored in the memory 41 in such a way as to modify or leave unchanged the configuration of the pull-up and pull-down drivers enabled inside the output buffers with the aim to reach or maintain the matching state. Similar to circuit 1, each circuit ODC1-ODCn is sized in such a way as to obtain matching with reference to a pre-established impedance Zc1-Zcn of the data line TL1-TLn.

Obviously, those skilled in the art, with the aim of satisfying contingent and specific requirements, can make numerous modifications and variations to the control circuit and to the output driving circuit described herein, all of which are within the protective scope of the invention as defined in the claims below.

Claims

1. An impedance control circuit for controlling an impedance of an integrated output driving stage comprising at least one enabling/disabling transistor and at least one driving transistor, the impedance control circuit comprising:

a variable impedance circuit having an impedance that varies with temperature in correlation with the impedance of the output driving stage;

a control circuit connected to said variable impedance circuit for generating at least one enabling/disabling signal for the at least one enabling/disabling transistor based on a control signal correlated to the impedance of said variable impedance circuit; and

a current generating circuit for applying to said variable impedance circuit a current which remains substantially stable as the temperature varies.

2. An impedance control circuit according to claim 1 wherein the control signal is also correlated to a voltage drop in said variable impedance circuit determined by the generated current.

3. An impedance control circuit according to claim 1 wherein said current generating circuit comprises a current source for generating a reference current that remains substantially stable as the temperature varies and as a supply voltage varies.

4. An impedance control circuit according to claim 3 wherein said current generating circuit further comprises a multiplication circuit connected to said current source; and wherein said multiplication circuit comprises at least one current mirror for multiplying the reference current by a multiplication factor and for obtaining the current which remains substantially stable as the temperature varies.

5. An impedance control circuit according to claim 4 further comprising an intermediate current mirror between said current source and said multiplication circuit for supplying said multiplication circuit with a current proportional to the reference current.

6. An impedance control circuit according to claim 4 wherein said at least one current mirror comprises:

a first current mirror having a first current multiplying factor; and

a second current mirror connected to said first mirror for multiplying by a second multiplication factor a current coming from said first mirror and for providing the current that remains substantially stable as the temperature varies.

7. An impedance control circuit according to claim 1 wherein said control circuit comprises a comparator having a first input for receiving the control signal and a second input for receiving a reference signal, and an output for supplying a difference signal based upon a difference between the control signal and the reference signal, the difference signal being the at least one enabling/disabling signal.

8. An impedance control circuit according to claim 7, further comprising a counting device for bi-directionally counting timing pulses, said counting device having an input terminal connected to the output of said comparator for receiving a counting direction control signal, and at least one counting output connected to said variable impedance circuit for supplying counting signals thereto for varying the impedance thereof.

9. An impedance control circuit according to claim 8 further comprising:

a register for storing the counting signals, said register being activated by an activation signal for supplying the at least one enabling/disabling signal; and

a sequence identifier connected between said comparator and said register for identifying a sequence of the counting signals and for providing the activation signal to said register.

10. An impedance control circuit according to claim 1 wherein said variable impedance circuit comprises at least one control transistor.

11. An impedance control circuit according to claim 4 wherein said variable impedance circuit has an impedance that varies with the supply voltage according to the impedance of the output driving stage and a current that remains substantially as the temperature varies, the current being variable in correlation to the supply voltage.

12. An impedance control circuit according to claim 11 wherein the current varies proportionally to the supply voltage; and wherein said at least one current mirror comprises a plurality of multiplication branches that are selectively enabled for modifying the current proportional to the supply voltage.

13. An impedance control circuit according to claim 12 further comprising an enabling circuit connected to each multiplication branch for generating a plurality of enabling/disabling signals based upon the supply voltage and a reference voltage that remains substantially stable as the temperature varies and as the supply voltage varies.

14. An impedance control circuit according to claim 13 wherein said enabling circuit comprises:

a resistive divider comprising a plurality of resistors for receiving the supply voltage; and

a plurality of comparators, each comparator having a first input connected to one of said plurality of resistors, a second input for receiving the reference voltage, and an output connected to a multiplication branch for supplying a signal corresponding to one of the plurality of enabling/disabling signals.

15. An impedance control circuit according to claim 12 wherein each multiplication branch comprises a branch enabling transistor and a multiplication transistor serially connected therewith.

16. An integrated circuit comprising:

an output driving circuit comprising at least one enabling/disabling transistor and at least one driving transistor for providing an output signal; and

an impedance control circuit connected to said output driving circuit for supplying at least one enabling/disabling signal to said at least one enabling/disabling transistor, said impedance control circuit for controlling impedance of said output driving stage and comprising

a variable impedance circuit having an impedance that varies with temperature in correlation with the impedance of said output driving stage,

a control circuit connected to said variable impedance circuit for generating the at least one enabling/disabling signal for the at least one enabling/disabling transistor based on a control signal correlated to the impedance of said variable impedance circuit, and

a current generating circuit for applying to said variable impedance circuit a current which remains substantially stable as the temperature varies.

17. An integrated circuit according to claim 16 wherein said at least one driving transistor comprises a plurality of driving transistors comprising:

a first plurality of pull-up transistors connected in parallel; and

a second plurality of pull-down transistors connected in parallel;

each pull-up transistor being connected in series to a respective pull-down transistor.

18. An integrated circuit according to claim 16 wherein said current generating circuit comprises a current source for generating a reference current that remains substantially stable as the temperature varies and as a supply voltage varies.

19. An integrated circuit according to claim 18 wherein said current generating circuit further comprises a multiplication circuit connected to said current source; and wherein said multiplication circuit comprises at least one current mirror for multiplying the reference current by a multiplication factor and for obtaining the current which remains substantially stable as the temperature varies.

20. An integrated circuit according to claim 19 further comprising an intermediate current mirror between said current source and said multiplication circuit for supplying said multiplication circuit with a current proportional to the reference current.

21. An integrated circuit according to claim 19 wherein said at least one current mirror comprises:

a first current mirror having a first current multiplying factor; and

a second current mirror connected to said first mirror for multiplying by a second multiplication factor a current coming from said first mirror, and for providing the current that remains substantially stable as the temperature varies.

22. An integrated circuit according to claim 16 wherein said control circuit comprises a comparator having a first input for receiving the control signal and a second input for receiving a reference signal, and an output for supplying a difference signal based upon a difference between the control signal and the reference signal, the difference signal being the at least one enabling/disabling signal.

23. An integrated circuit according to claim 22 further comprising a counting device for bi-directionally counting timing pulses, said counting device having an input terminal connected to the output of said comparator for receiving a counting direction control signal, and at least one counting output connected to said variable impedance circuit for supplying counting signals thereto for varying the impedance.

24. An integrated circuit according to claim 23 further comprising:

a register for storing the counting signals, said register being activated by an activation signal for supplying the at least one enabling/disabling signal; and

a sequence identifier connected between said comparator and said register for identifying a sequence of the counting signals and for providing the activation signal to said register.

25. An integrated circuit according to claim 19 wherein said variable impedance circuit has an impedance that varies with the supply voltage according to the impedance of the output driving stage and a current that remains substantially stable as the temperature varies, the current being variable in correlation to the supply voltage.

26. An integrated circuit according to claim 25 wherein the current varies proportionally to the supply voltage, wherein said at least one current mirror comprises a plurality of multiplication branches that are selectively enabled for modifying the current proportional to the supply voltage.

27. An integrated circuit according to claim 26 further comprising an enabling circuit connected to each multiplication branch for generating a plurality of enabling/disabling signals based upon the supply voltage and a reference voltage that remains substantially stable as the temperature varies and as the supply voltage varies.

28. A memory device comprising:

a nonvolatile memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns for storing data therein;

row and column decoders connected to said memory array for selecting at least one memory cell based upon an address signal;

at least one sense amplifier for detecting stored data in said at least one memory cell;

at least one output driving circuit having an input connected to an output of said at least one sense amplifier for receiving the stored data, and an output for providing the stored data to an external data line, said at least one output driving circuit comprising at least one enabling/disabling transistor and at least one driving transistor; and

an impedance control circuit connected to said at least one output driving circuit for supplying at least one first enabling/disabling signal to said at least one enabling/disabling transistor, said impedance control circuit for controlling impedance of said at least one output driving stage and comprising

a variable impedance circuit having an impedance that varies with temperature in correlation with the impedance of said output driving stage,

a control circuit connected to said variable impedance circuit for generating the at least one enabling/disabling signal for the at least one enabling/disabling transistor based on a control signal correlated to the impedance of said variable impedance circuit, and

a current generating circuit for applying to said variable impedance circuit a current which remains substantially stable as the temperature varies.

29. A memory device according to claim 23 wherein said at least one driving transistor comprises a plurality of driving transistors comprising:

a first plurality of pull-up transistors connected in parallel; and

a second plurality of pull-down transistors connected in parallel;

each pull-up transistor being connected in series to a respective pull-down transistor.

30. A memory device according to claim 28 wherein said current generating circuit comprises a current source for generating a reference current that remains substantially stable as the temperature varies and as a supply voltage varies.

31. A memory device according to claim 30 wherein said current generating circuit further comprises a multiplication circuit connected to said current source; and

32. A memory device according to claim 31 further comprising an intermediate current mirror between said current source and said multiplication circuit for supplying said multiplication circuit with a current proportional to the reference current.

33. A memory device according to claim 28 wherein said control circuit comprises a comparator having a first input for receiving the control signal and a second input for receiving a reference signal, and an output for supplying a difference signal based upon a difference between the control signal and the reference signal, the difference signal being the at least one enabling/disabling signal.

34. A memory device according to claim 33 further comprising a counting device for bi-directionally counting timing pulses, said counting device having an input terminal connected to the output of said comparator for receiving a counting direction control signal, and at least one counting output connected to said variable impedance circuit for supplying counting signals thereto for varying the impedance thereof.

35. A memory device according to claim 34, further comprising:

a register for storing the counting signals, said register being activated by an activation signal for supplying the at least one enabling/disabling signal; and

a sequence identifier connected between said comparator and said register for identifying a sequence of the counting signals and for providing the activation signal to said register.

36. A method for controlling impedance of an integrated output driving stage comprising at least one enabling/disabling transistor and at least one driving transistor, the method comprising:

providing a variable impedance circuit having an impedance that varies with temperature in correlation with the impedance of the output driving stage;

generating at least one enabling/disabling signal for the at least one enabling/disabling transistor based on a control signal correlated to the impedance of the variable impedance circuit, the at least one enabling/disabling signal being generated using an enabling/disabling circuit connected to the variable impedance circuit; and

applying a current to the variable impedance circuit which remains substantially stable as the temperature varies.

37. A method according to claim 36 wherein the current is generated using a current generating circuit comprising a current source for generating a reference current that remains substantially stable as the temperature varies and as a supply voltage varies.

38. A method according to claim 37 wherein the current generating circuit further comprises a multiplication circuit connected to the current source; and wherein the multiplication circuit comprises at least one current mirror for multiplying the reference current by a multiplication factor and for obtaining the current which remains substantially stable as the temperature varies.

39. A method according to claim 38 further comprising an intermediate current mirror between the current source and the multiplication circuit for supplying the multiplication circuit by a current proportional to the reference current.

40. A method according to claim 36 wherein the control circuit comprises a comparator having a first input for receiving the control signal and a second input for receiving a reference signal, and an output for supplying a difference signal based upon a difference between the control signal and the reference signal, the difference signal being the at least one enabling/disabling signal.

41. A method according to claim 40, further comprising a counting device for bi-directionally counting timing pulses, the counting device having an input terminal connected to the output of the comparator for receiving a counting direction control signal, and at least one counting output connected to the variable impedance circuit for supplying counting signals thereto for varying the impedance.